Vacation Rentals by Owner

Perfect: Well stocked, well documented

Guest: Joyce C.
Date of Stay: 05/04/12 Review Submitted: 05/07/12

A friend and I stayed this past weekend for a very lovely weekend. The house is so well stocked, you'll think you're staying at a friend's. We especially loved the little notes that added insight into local restaurants and explained quickly how to use the washer/dryer (not that we used it, but it showed the attention to detail that we appreciated). The pictures included with the property description are completely accurate. If they look good to you, the reality will as well.

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My families stay vacation.

Guest: Yelena S.
Date of Stay: 04/07/12 Review Submitted: 04/14/12

This is a perfect place to go to if you are trying to get away from the city.The main town for supplies is a short drive, the lake is walking distance, the house is very comfortably set up. The owners are very easy going.excellent condition,extra clean and equiped. good location++++ Recommended for: Families with Young Children. Romantic Getaway.Thank you very much.

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Incredible balm

Guest: Boris F.
Date of Stay: 09/08/11 Review Submitted: 09/10/11

I actually couldn't wait till I got home to review. Am on my second of two weekend days here, feet up on the Adirondack chair, under the crisp September sun, watching the lake and listening to the windchimes. Came here to interrupt the usual (NY) city chaos, amplified by having to get ready for a two-month business trip out of the country, on which I leave several days after I get back from here. What a balm it has been. The first night I slept till noon, today till 11. Unheard-of at home. It's dead-quiet, and so lovely. Carroll was exceedingly gracious and flexible in the lead-up; I must have bombarded her with a hundred questions and contingencies over the course of a dozen e-mails before I came. I've been noticeably calmer since I got here :) Couldn't recommend this place more heartily. Make sure to go to Barthel's for the fruits and veggies, the European deli for a nice Polish meal, and Aroma Thyme Bistro for a gourmet dinner.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway.

WOW, WOW, WOW!!!!!

Guest: Cristina (Brooklyn)
Date of Stay: 09/04/11 Review Submitted: 09/08/11

This place is PARADISE. The house is even more beautiful than the pictures. It is so clean, so well.maintained and tastefully decorated! The views are stunning, you can see the lake in the forest from every single corner of the house, even from your bed! Despite the bad weather -it rained non stop...agrrr...-we had a blast: yeap, the place is that great, that special. Carroll, the owner, was very helpful and accommodating, and she even gave us a call to make sure everything was alright. She was very sweet and we appreciated that. I would recommend this place without any doubt. It is just impossible not to love it! THANKS A LOT, Carroll!! Cristina

Owner response:Cristina, Thanks so much. It was lovely having you and your family here. You've just described our "mission" statement !

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Very enjoyable stay

Guest: Tatiana (Brooklyn, New York)
Date of Stay: 05/13/11 Review Submitted: 05/16/11

4 friends and I came to this lovely home for a weekend getaway from the city. The area house is just like the pictures: very pretty with fantastic views of the lake. The pictures do not do the humongous front lawn justice. Lots of very nice touches: fresh picked flowers on the table upon arrival, wrapped soaps in the bathroom, plenty of clean towels, sheets, pillows. Overall a great gem in the country.

Recommended for:Age 55+, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Lovely place to visit

Guest: Suz (Chadds Ford PA)
Date of Stay: 12/26/10 Review Submitted: 01/03/11

Carroll and John, very nice people have a lovely house on the lake.You could almost touch the stars at night. The air is freah and the view is picture perfect. This home is filled with all you need and more. The town of Ellenville is sweet. Dining at Gaby's and Aroma Thyme Bistro was our favorites. Great Health food store in town ,family owned and friendly people. Cohen's Bakery has some of the best tasty treats too..Sam's Point Preserve is a must hike. Take the loop to Lake Maratanza is amazing even through the snow. The view of the lake and above the mountains is wonderful. Minnewaska State Park is minutes away. If you love nature and peace and quite this is the place to go..

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Serenity

Guest: nyclady (NY, NY)
Date of Stay: 12/23/10 Review Submitted: 01/19/11

My mother and I were looking for a quiet yet scenic getaway for some much needed peace and relaxation. Carroll's home exceeded our expectations, we stayed there over both the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays and the atmosphere provided just what we were in search of. The views of the lake from the house are stunning and the surroundings absolutely serene! The house is well kept and truly charming, very cozy. If you are in search of quiet time in nature with a beautiful lake to look out over, this is the place for you. Carroll was very easy to deal with and went out of her way to assist me with some specific requests/town information. I will be staying there again.

Recommended for:Age 55+, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway.

Relaxing

Guest: benny (Ohio)
Date of Stay: 11/10/10 Review Submitted: 11/14/10

Thank you for such a great place to stay. We enjoyed the peacefulness of the location and the comfort of the house. We were in a great location to see the local sites and visit our family in the area. I really enjoyed watching the otters on the lake.

Recommended for:Age 55+, girls getaway, pet owners.

Peaceful Retreat.

Guest: Stressed Traveler (NY)
Date of Stay: 10/28/10 Review Submitted: 11/01/10

Carol, As always your place is my home away from home. This is the fourth year I have enjoyed your hospitality and you retreat by the lake. The fall is my favorite season and your home is the best place I have found to spend a few days as a peaceful retreat. Mission accomplished, stress melted away, I was warmed by the fire and nature provides the tranquil setting. See you again soon for my next visit.

Recommended for:Age 55+

Peaceful!!

Guest: Lesa S. (Unionville.NY)
Date of Stay: 10/14/10 Review Submitted: 10/28/10

Just stayed, middle of October. The weather was awful half of our stay! But, we didn't care! The house was so comfortable, we had a nice fire going. Great music! Beautiful, expansive views from every window. There was a great library upstairs(what to read? Chose a book on water crystals(have been making Hado water ever since for us and our dog) Thank you for the use of your lovely home and for allowing us to bring our dog. I would recommend this place to all!

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway.

Great Time

Guest: Sabina Chaachoua
Date of Stay: 05/14/10 Review Submitted: 06/22/10

"We had a great time. What a nice place you have here. Hope to be back soon !!!

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Perfect quiet getaway!!!

Guest: Irfan S. (NYC)
Date of Stay: 04/24/10 Review Submitted: 06/02/10

Me and my fiance needed to getaway for the weekend, and this place was perfect. Not too far, yet not to close. Beautiful, cozy home that made you feel welcome, with a view that made you feel nothing but relaxed. I would definitely recommend this home to anyone in the NYC area that needs to getaway but cant travel that far... Owners were great. Provided me with all the information I needed before I arrived and even went further and beyond to get me information that they didn't have to.

Owner response:Knowing that it is not easy to make time for writing reviews, we so appreciate the time and attention !

Recommended for:Girls getaway, romantic getaway.

Perfect Place

Guest: Michael Gowiski
Date of Stay: 04/16/10 Review Submitted: 06/22/10

"Thank you for the use of your house. It was wonderful. A perfect place to get away and relax even if the weather wasn't so perfect. I hope we left everything in order and I hope we will see you again. Thanks !

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raving review

Guest: Lis Ssenjovu
Date of Stay: 03/30/10 Review Submitted: 06/22/10

Thank you ! We had a lovely time and will be leaving a raving review on the web.

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Guest: Mel and Dee (Dutchess County Ny )
Date of Stay: 12/28/09 Review Submitted: 12/28/09

Hello John and Carroll, My sister and I want to thank you for allowing us to stay in your beautiful, cozy home. It is definitely a home away from home. Lots of space and very relaxingly quiet. The lake is absolutely gorgeous!Even in the winter. I will definitely recommend your lovely home to my friends,family for a comfortable getaway. May the Lord bless you both.

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house looks great

Guest: Frank Sanchez
Date of Stay: 11/05/09 Review Submitted: 06/22/10

House looks great. The new paint makes it sparkle. Thanks for all.

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relaxing time

Guest: Jaymie DeWitt
Date of Stay: 09/26/09 Review Submitted: 06/22/10

Thank you Carroll ! We had such a relaxing time away. All was perfect and hopefully we left it as clean as we found it. Thanks again !

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great week

Guest: Janet Lawler
Date of Stay: 08/08/09 Review Submitted: 06/22/10

Hi Carroll & John, Thanks for a great week here! We enjoyed the house, Lake Minnewaska & Woodstock.

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lake & mountains are beautiful

Guest: Ben Spatola
Date of Stay: 07/18/09 Review Submitted: 06/22/10

Thank you so much for allowing us to rent the house. We really enjoyed it here. The lake and mountains are beautiful. You've done a great job with the house as well - beautiful flowers and very informative info about the area. Thanks !

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beautiful lake house

Guest: Melanie Glass
Date of Stay: 06/12/09 Review Submitted: 06/22/10

Thank you so much for having us at your beautiful lake house. We LOVE it here and are sad to go. Thanks again.

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awesome!

Guest: Melanie_ny (Brooklyn)
Date of Stay: 06/12/09 Review Submitted: 06/15/09

Just stayed at this rental for the weekend.... it was terrific. Spacious, comfortable, and fun. Enjoyed reading and eating on the deck, and taking the canoe out for a spin. Wish I never had to go back to NYC!! Much recommended, I have never rented via the internet- and this experience was lovely! We didn't rent a car... just took the bus, and a local cab service. A fine option as long as you bring groceries.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, pet owners, romantic getaway.

A wonderful escape from the city

Guest: AnastasiaBrooklyn (Brooklyn, NY)
Date of Stay: 06/12/09 Review Submitted: 06/15/09

A weekend at this lake front home left me well rested and full of fun memories. Three of my girlfriends, and I, stayed at this adorable house this past weekend. It was perfect! We cooked lots of meals to eat on the sunny deck and we made as much use of the lake as possible - canoeing and swimming all day long. The beds were comfortable, the shower was hot, and it was nice to have the option of playing music from the ipod doc or watching a movie on the television, when we were tired from all of our outdoor activities. For four people who spend way too much time in the hustle and bustle of the city, it was a perfect escape. The air was so fresh out there and you could see just about every star. I would definitely recommend this house to anyone who is looking to getaway for a weekend, or much longer. Carroll was extremely flexible and easy to work with, not to mention resourceful regarding advice on what to bring, how to get there, etc. While it would have been fun to have a car to do some exploring in the surrounding area, we opted to take the bus ($60/roundtrip) and the cab from the town of Ellenville to the house ran around $20-22 with tip. Not bad at all. I would love to go back at some point in the future!

Recommended for:People with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

House open and cosey

Guest: Susan O'Connor
Date of Stay: 06/08/09 Review Submitted: 06/22/10

Thanks so much for having the house so open and homey upon our arrival. We so enjoyed our days. We look forward to perhaps renting the house again in the future. Yours truly.

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great relaxation

Guest: nellik (brooklyn)
Date of Stay: 05/28/09 Review Submitted: 06/09/09

We had a nice time at the house. Carroll and John are great and helpful if you need anything. The house is very cute and cozy...and steps away from the lake!!! It was nice. You will enjoy your stay. Oh and you should not bring anything with you as the house is fully stocked...even needle and thread :)

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with young children, pet owners, romantic getaway.

Incredible warmth and hospitality

Guest: Von Hambardzomyon
Date of Stay: 05/08/09 Review Submitted: 06/22/10

We are so grateful to you and your husband for your incredible warmth and hospitality. We've had such an amazing weekend in your lovely home, a much needed retreat fro the chaos of New York City. Thanks again for all the effort you put into making us feel welcome.

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Thanks !

Guest: Julie Hollar
Date of Stay: 03/26/09 Review Submitted: 06/22/10

Thanks so much Carroll ! We had a great time !

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A perfect weekend!

Guest: Laura_NYC (New York City)
Date of Stay: 05/31/08 Review Submitted: 06/04/08

We stayed in this cozy, beautiful house this past weekend- looking for a way to escape the city for a few days. We thoroughly enjoyed cooking out on the deck and just appreciating the scenery. We never turned on the tv! It had all of the amenities that we could possibly need. Thank you so much, Carroll!! We really enjoyed ourselves!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Manuela3 (-)
Date of Stay: 07/25/06 Review Submitted: 07/25/06

I have stayed in so many cabins before in NY and this one was by far the best. My family and I had a great time, the house was so cozy and we felt very comfortable and welcome. The lakeview is very relaxing and we look forward to coming back. Thank you John and Carrol. Your warmth and graciousness can be felt as soon as we step into your house.

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Guest: Peggy & Jim1 (-)
Date of Stay: 07/17/06 Review Submitted: 07/17/06

7/17/06 My family enjoyed a relaxing week in this beatiful house. Carroll and John were gracious hosts and we had everything we needed. It is perfect for reconnecting with each other. We used the Direct TV & High speed internet, but also had an uninterrupted 5 hour Monopoly Marathon. Thanks for a great week.

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Guest: Janelle2 (New York, NY)
Date of Stay: 07/06/06 Review Submitted: 07/06/06

This house is beautiful. It was the perfect retreat for 4th of July weekend. We would wake up to the geese on the lake, then canoed out to the beach for a morning swim. Carroll are John are incredibly nice and the kind of people you want to be friends with not just rent a house from. I definitely recommend this rental.

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Guest: cchoi (NY)
Date of Stay: 06/30/06 Review Submitted: 06/30/06

Canoeing on the lake, BBQ-ing on the deck, and relaxing with friends...the lakehouse served as the perfect weekend get away. It was wonderfully kept and had everything we needed. Carroll and John were gracious hosts and we look forward to future visits!

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Guest: John and Rhonda1 (Brooklyn, NY)
Date of Stay: 06/01/06 Review Submitted: 06/01/06

The house was a wonderful getaway. A family of geese kept us company all weekend as we enjoyed sitting on the deck, looking out over the water day and night, and doing absolutely nothing at all. Carroll and John were fine hosts and we had everything we could have wanted. Thank you both. Hopefully we can visit again soon.

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Guest: Kitty Putnam (Greenville, SC)
Date of Stay: 05/12/06 Review Submitted: 05/12/06

Relaxing and refreshing! Heretofore, my only experience with NY was the city. Frankly, I did not know what to expect. Being at this lovely retreat was like a step back in time. Sitting near the wood-burning stove, walking the streets, gazing out at the peaceful lake, preparing and enjoying meals together with friends, and sleeping in the wonderful loft were reminders that life was not intended to be a "rat race." I look forward to returning next fall.

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